Chess Puzzle #09Bs6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/g1; bishop b3; knight d5; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/f2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rooks a8/e8; bishop g4; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc7 — knight d5→c7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe4+ — rook e8→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies dxe4 (pawn d3→e4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen f3→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen d2→e3).
4. Best move: dxe3 — pawn d4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3pp1/7p/2pN4/3pP1b1/PB1P1q2/1PPQ1P2/R3K1R1 w Q - 1 19

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